15 hour car trip with 9 month olds...advice

laraashleyt · May 2013

Hey y'all. In 2 months we will be taking a big family trip that requires a 15 hour car ride. The twins will be 9 months old. If anyone was taken a long car trip with a 9 month old, what things did you bring to entertain them? Any tips or advice? Also, we have been contemplating leaving at 7:30pm (their bedtime), and driving straight through. My husband and I could take shifts sleeping and driving and that way they would sleep their normal 12 hours at night. Then we would only have about 3 hours of them being fully awake. Anyone done that? Drive during bedtime? Did it work? Don't want them to wake up half way through and just be bears!!!

Thanks for any advice or personal experience!

cedenton · May 2013

We took a road trip recently and left at bedtime. It worked very well. He slept the whole way. When I asked my BMB this was the recommendation as well.

There was some fussing at one point (he was really hot) so I fed him and he was fine. Transferred him to his crib when we got to our destination and he slept until 6:30AM.

numberonemama · May 2013

Def leave at bedtime and go straight thru. Just be prepared for lots of stops if needed.

mamathefox · May 2013

I did an 8 hour one. I left super early and she slept most of it on the way there. I tried to do the same going home but hit Chicago AM rush hour and added 2.5 hours to my trip. I was stuck with a screaming baby on the way back (I drove alone with her so I didnt have help to soothe her). I would suggest getting a new toy they have never seen and using it to be attention grabbing when they get fuzzy. I crack the window by her seat a tiny bit and they seems to help her fall asleep (the whistling noise)

Hope this helps!! and I hope you have fun where ever you are going

Starfish+77 · May 2013

One of the blogs I follow, Char Eats Greens, just did a post about car travel wi a baby and gave some good tips. I think it was posted today or in the past few days if you want to read!

tamararachel2 · May 2013

I would def leave at night!! We just moved and it was a 16 hr car drive. DS2 just turned 7 mo yesterday. I wanted to leave at night and drive all night but we didn't have that option. Lets just say it was an AWFUL trip. We had long fits of screaming even after stopping several times.

laraashleyt · May 2013

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. We are DEFINITELY going to leave at their bedtime and just drive straight through. I think as long as DH and I take shifts, we'll be okay!!

Want a personalized experience?

15 hour car trip with 9 month olds...advice

Re: 15 hour car trip with 9 month olds...advice

Choose Another Board

Search Boards